Monday, May 12, 2008

Pasacao, Camarines SurFirst DistrictCamarines Sur's very own version of the Copacabana Beach in Brazil, Pasacao has about 12-kilometers of beaches filled with people on weekends, either to unwind after a busy week of work or to spend pleasure and fun with the whole family. Just a 45-minute ride by car from Naga City , excursionists can choose from isolating themselves to the nearby Daruanak Island , to enjoying the ambience of a floating cottage to basking under the sun while on a leisure cruise on a motorboat.

Gota Beach Resort

Caramoan, Camarines SurThird DistrictA five-hour trip either by bus from Naga City to Sabang, San Jose and by boat to Caramoan or directly by land through the Caramoan Peninsula Road, one will be amply rewarded with beautiful beaches with fine white sand beside majestic limestone and marble mountains as well as a taste of adventure in its exotic islets with coves nearby. (Temporarily unavailable due to continuous improvement of the area.)

Consocep Resthouse

Brgy. ConsocepTigaon, Camarines SurConstructed by the DPWH during the 70s, the place offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, Partido area and Mt. Iriga.

Weinert's Guesthouse

PacificBrgy. NinoSagnay, Camarines SurJust over an-hour by bus or jeepney from Naga City, it a German-owned resort, which serve an international cuisine with high-comfort guestrooms, bar, function room are just a few of the amenities offered by the resort.

NATURAL WONDERS

Mt. Isarog

Camarines SurTowering 1,976 meters above sea level and covering 10, 112 hectares, it is the haven of indigenous flora and fauna. Most of the rare exotic of orchids, medicinal and flowering plants, wild boars, deers, squirrels, monkeys and untamed rodents are found on the base of the slopes of the mountain. It is now the last Rainforest Mountain in Southern Luzon. Hundreds of waterfalls both known unknown, an unforgettable sigh to behold. The Protected Area Management Board has identified Malabay Falls (Naga City), Curry (Pili) Consocep (Tigaon), Hiwacloy (Goa) as tourism areas within the mountain.

Mt. Asog

Iriga, Camarines SurTowering 1,120 meters at Buhi side and 1,212 meters Iriga City side and overlooking Lake Buhi dormant Asog beckons to the adventurous mountaineers and feel rewarded discovering a three hectare sunken crater blooming with pine trees. It is home to the Agta, a tribal people of Bicol.

Lahuy Island

Caramoan, Camarines SurA 10-kilometer long island about 3 kilometers at its widest point. The island has long stretches of uniquely white fine sand. Barangay Gota has been known as a gold-mining community even before the war. At present only small-scale operation is in existence. At sitio Nipa, a spring 300 meters from the shore provides fresh water source not available elsewhere. A 40-hectare mangrove swamp near Barangay Oring offers a habitat for a marine wildlife.(Temporarily unavailable due to continuous improvement of the area.)

Malarad Island,Caramoan, Camarines SurThe lagoon is accessible by swimming underneath the rocks on the beach side. Coral gardens are vast and colorful.(Temporarily unavailable due to continuous improvement of the area.)

Isla de Monteverde

Denrica, GarchitorenaCamarines SurThe island is covered with virgin forest, inhabited bybirds, bats and ignanas. It is bordered by white beaches with clean and clear sea water.

Caramoan, Camarines SurLike a deformed cathedral the cave interior is illuminated by natural windows millions of bats flying in circles petrified hill of guano.(Temporarily unavailable due to continuous improvement of the area.)

LANDMARKS

Nahulugan Kampana

Brgy. Sta. Maria, LagonoyCamarines SurThe belfry of the first stone church which serves as the living memory of the past became an added tourist attraction of the municipality. It is approximately 300 meters from the Lagonoy Poblacion and can be reached thru walking or riding motor vehicles or padyaks. Presently the area is categorized as open and grassland area, but half a portion is utilized for agricultural purposes. It has an area of more or less one (1) hectare and privately owned by Ontengco's family.

Calvario Hill

Brgy. San Francisco, Iriga CityCamarines SurPresently, this is the site of Bicol's magnificent Emerald Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes. In olden times, the hill was once the habitat of the Asuang (witch), the reason why the hill is referred to as the "orno" or "oven". As the result of the angelization of the area the hill became the site for staging "Pagtanggal", the Iriga folk version of the re-enactment of the Passion of Christ, hence, the name "Calvario Hill". The first "ermita" or mission chapel of Iriga during Spanish times was erected here as evidenced by religious artifacts unearthened in the site. Opposite the Ermita the Casino Espanol was erected, a favorite converging are for Spanish rulers. When the Americans came at the turn of the century, this was converted into a base for its cavalry forces. During the Japanese occupation, a Japanese garrison was established on the hilltop, utilized as watchtower against guerillas. Many Filipinos met martyrdom in this area.

Kinuwartelan

Brgy. Perpetual Help, Iriga CityCamarines SurSituated along the tourist route, about 7 kilometers from the city proper, this place was a Spanish garrison camp during the Spanish Period. Many Filipino insurrections were kept here at and did hard labor; hence, the name "Kinuwertelan" meaning place of Incarceration. No trace of the prison barracks can be seen today.

Ateneo de Naga University

Ateneo Ave., Naga CityCamarines SurThe only Jesuit school in the region founded in 1940 was called the Fort Santiago of Bicol during World War II. The Japanese used its building as a concentration camp and torture chamber.

Universidad de Santa Isabel

Elias Angeles St., Naga CityCamarines SurFounded in 1868, this was the first the Normal School for women in the Far East. It was also the seat of the first Bicolano government in area after the Spanish war. Before it was conferred a university status, its name was then known as the Colegio de Sta. Isabel.

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary

Naga Cathedral Grounds,Naga CityCamarines SurSituated beside the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, it was founded in 1793 and became the second school in the Philippines. This was the seminary where Bicolano hero Jose Maria Panganiban and Bishop Jorge Barlin studied. A museum is located inside the seminary. It is called the Museo del Seminario Conciliar de Nueva Caceres.

NIGHTLIFE

The Bistro Roberto

Magsaysay Avenue,

Naga City, Camarines Sur

Tel. No: 473-6530

To anyone loving the nightlife and every string of fancies it carry, there's Bistro Roberto. Located at the heart and soul of evening entertainment along Magsaysay Avenue, Bistro Roberto showcases live entertainment featuring both local and Manila-based bands. The crowd is a mixture of both yuppies and oldies either singing or dancing the night away. Open from Monday thru Sunday 4pm until 2 am. Dress Code: Casual wear; slippers and sando not allowed.

Friday, May 9, 2008

A province that is famous for excellent dive sites and the world’s lowest volcano, Batangas is going nowhere but up. It is a thriving tourist destination replete with open beaches and sheltered coves, subterranean caves and deep harbors, a preserved heritage and brave men in history.

Found in the province is world-known Anilao and its many dive sites that are ideal for poking around and observing marine life, and outstanding for macro photography. Multi-hued crinoids are prolific. The variety of nudibranchs is unmatched. Night dives are especially nice and often reveal unusual creatures like sea hares, sea goblins, catfish eels, ghost pipe fishes, blue-ringed octopuses, mandarin fishes, and snake eels. The area’s best known dive site, coral-covered Cathedral is spectacular at night. One of the prettiest dives in the area, Sepok has nice coral gardens and a vertical wall.

Taal Lake and Volcano in Batangas is Southern Luzon’s centerpiece attraction. Known to be the smallest in the world, it is a volcano within an islet within a lake within a crater within a volcano. The town of Taal reigns as one of the two most culturally preserved sites of the Spanish colonial era; the other is Vigan in Ilocos Sur. The village in Taal conforms to the old town layout combining the municipal hall, school, church, and houses.

Among the multitude of popular tourism activities to be had in the province are heritage tours, pilgrimage tours, scuba diving, shopping, mountain climbing and trekking, swimming, and snorkeling. Batangas is located only 110 kilometers south of Metropolitan Manila, and is very accessible from the national capital by land.

HISTORY

Founded in 1581, Batangas used to be a bigger province, which was composed of the present Batangas, Mindoro, Marinduque, and the present southeastern portion of Laguna. It used to be called Balayan, with the town of Balayan as the capital.

In the beginning of the 17th century, Marinduque and Mindoro were made into separate provinces. In 1732, the capital was transferred to Taal. Finally, in 1754, the capital was transferred to Batangas and the province was thereafter named after the new capital town.

Batangueños are known for being adventurous, business-minded, industrious, friendly, and hospitable. They also happen to have a long-standing reputation for bravery, owing to the Balisong, a Philippine handmade fan-knife native to the province. To add to the perception, Lipa in Batangas, known as Coffee Granary of the Philippines, produces the popular Kapeng Barako, strong coffee considered fit only for strong men.

BATANGAS IS FAMOUS FOR:

Anilao

It is not only ideal for poking around and observing marine life but also outstanding for macro photography. Multi-hued crinoids are prolific. The variety of nudibranchs is unmatched. Night dives are especially nice and often reveal unusual creatures like sea hares, sea goblins, catfish eels, ghost pipe fishes, blue-ringed octopuses, mandarin fishes, and snake eels.

Apolinario Mabini ShrineThe national shrine is a memorial to the nationalism of Philippine hero Apolinario Mabini, known as the Sublime Paralytic, whose moral convictions and political principles illuminated the Filipinos in their search for national identity. It houses the remains and personal belongings of the late revolutionary hero who is also considered as the Brains of the Katipunan, the 1896 Filipino revolutionary movement against Spain. The shrine is located in Barrio Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas.

Taal Lake and Volcano

Southern Luzon’s centerpiece attraction is Taal Lake and Taal Volcano in Batangas. The gateway for most visitors is through Tagaytay City, from the ridge where a panoramic view of Volcano Island can be seen. The volcano is known to be the smallest in the world. Surrounded by a lake, it is situated on an 8.8-kilometer islet, lapped by the 27-kilometer-long lake. Both the lake and the volcano are situated on the crater of an extinct volcano. Volcano Island is also ideal for trekking.

Taal Heritage

Taal reigns as one of the two most culturally preserved sites of the Spanish colonial era; the other is Vigan in Ilocos sur. The village conforms to the old town layout combining municipal hall-school-church-houses. It consists of a number of tourist attractions, namely, the Leon Apacible Historical Landmark, Marcela Mariño Agoncilio Museum and Monument, Basilica of San Martin de Tours, Escuela Pia, and Church of Our Lady of Caysasay.

Basilica of San Martin de Tours / Taal Church

San Martin de Tours is the patron of Taal, in whose honor a fest is celebrated every November 11. The church was first built by Father Diego Espina in 1575 in San Nicolas. It was destroyed when Taal volcano erupted in 1754, rebuilt at the present site in 1755, and once more destroyed by an earthquake in 1849. Construction of the present church was started in 1856. Once noted to be the biggest in South East Asia, the church is unique in its combined patriotic, religious, and artistic influence. Writers point to its theatrical exuberance. Its façade is baroque and consists of a single mass of stone shaped into rich complex designs. The church, however, is a fusion of styles with arched openings, alternating segmental canopies and arches of assymmetric shapes.

Church of Our Lady of CaysasayThis church is one of the province’s distinct cultural artifacts for some of the priceless relics of the Spanish colonial period. Among the relics are the 27-centimeter image of the Virgin which was fished out of the waters in 1603, the Augustinian emblems engraved on the communion rails, the ornately carved holy water receptacle, and the few baroque motifs which remain on the external frieze. The church has been renovated but many interesting details of period art can still be appreciated.

Mt. MaculotOne of the highest and most prominent mountains in the province, Mt. Maculot is one of the favorite sites of mountain trekkers. It is said that the mountain was the last stronghold of the Japanese in the province before they were defeated. Several tunnels built by the Japanese soldiers are present in the area. The name Maculot, meaning kinky, was derived from the curly-haired aborigines found in the place.

Parada ng LechonThe celebration held every June 24 in the town of Balayan coincides with the feast of St. John the Baptist. Lechons, or roast suckling pigs, coming from each barangay of the town are paraded, dressed in accordance with the theme of the fiesta. The parade is capped with a grand viewing of the lechons at the plaza. After the parade, the townspeople and guests partake of the fare as well as engage in water dousing.

BalisongBatangueños have a long-standing reputation for bravery, owing to the Balisong, a Philippine handmade fan-knife native to the province. Balisongs are an excellent buy from the myriad of shops that litter the province, showcasing the artistry of Batangueños.

Tanauan Aerial SportsAccessible in less than two hours south of Manila, the small town of Tanauan is the skydiving capital of the Philippines. The drop zone, between Mt. Makiling and Taal Volcano, showcases some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The Skydiving Center in Tanauan has a 1200m airstrip with several aircraft available to take you aloft for jumping. The standard equipment is state-of-the-art square parachutes, which all have Cypress automatic activation devices fitted for maximum safety.

LG puts the FUN back in your video games with the new Flatron W52. The user-friendly LG Flatron W52’s display is easily customizable, thanks to the FUN key, which enables one-touch access to many of its special functions. These include the 4:3 wide function that converts 4:3 sources to widescreen without distortion and eZ Zooming which allows viewers with less-than-perfect eyesight to lower the monitor’s resolution with a single touch of the FUN key. There’s also the Photo Effect and Sound function, which allows you to add special effects and sounds to slide shows. The LG Flatron W52 comes in 19”, 20”, 22” and 24” models.

Looking for a really nice music phone? The Samsung SGH-F250 is a sleek and good-looking mobile that comes equipped with dedicated music playback navigation keys on the front. This glossy tri-band GSM/EDGE slider music phone has a stylish metallic keypad and with an optional 2GB microSD card, where you can store up to 1,500 tracks in various formats which you can enjoy using stereo Bluetooth. Other functions include a speaker phone and an FM radio, 1.3-megapixel camera and USB 2.0 connectivity.

Laguna, Resort Province of the Philippines, is a haven of fresh and pristine bodies of water such as hot springs, lakes, and waterfalls. Most notable is Pagsanjan Falls, formerly called Magdapio Falls, referred to as “shooting rapids.” It is found in Cavinti, starting from Pagsanjan town. Another is Lake Caliraya, which is located between Cavinti and Lumban. The strong mountain breeze that blows from the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the distant Mount Banahaw makes the lake an ideal place for aqua sports like wind surfing, water skiing, sailing as well as game fishing. Laguna de Bay, Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake, stays pristine throughout the year due to regular rain showers.

Innumerable hot springs abound in the province, including the famous Hidden Valley Springs which is located in a secluded part of Alaminos town. A trip to Dalitiwan River, located in Botocan, Majayjay, is an exciting adventure because the terrain is rugged, as mountain lands go, and the cool water or river gushes through the rocks and boulders along the watercourse in sweeping currents. The mystical Mt. Makiling in Los Baños is an inactive volcano, rising to about 1,109 meters above sea level. It is indeed endowed with nature’s beauty, making it ideal for all types of nature tripping, from trekking to bird and butterfly watching and even camping.

Laguna is not only endowed with natural wonders. It also plays an important role in the country’s history as the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, whose infancy and early manhood were spent in the towns of Calamba and Biñan. A number of churches of Spanish-influenced architecture in intricate Romanesque and Baroque design, mostly restored to their original elegance, are also found in the province.

The province is one huge showcase of Southern Tagalog craftsmanship. The town of Paete is famous for its woodcarvings, papier mache, and handmade paper products.Tree seedlings, sampaguita flowers, orchids, and exotic plants are big business. Cut flower farms are found mostly in towns of Calamba, Los Baños, and Bay. Sweet tropical fruits abound, such as the lanzones from Paete, pineapple from Calauan, chico, banana, mango, rambutan, and avocado. Add to these Laguna’s embroidered garments. Jusi cloth made from banana fiber is painstakingly, albeit deftly, transformed into beautiful pieces of clothing worthy of being tailored into the Philippine national costume, the Barong Tagalog. Shoes made from abaca hemp is a growing industry in the town of Liliw.

Owing to its nearness to Manila, Laguna is presently becoming the center of economic activity in the Southern Tagalog Region and the CALABARZON area. Business in the area is bustling as shown by the presence of several industrial estates designed for handling large scale firms engaged in textile manufacturing, electronics, food processing, industrial machines, and car assembly.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The town of Pagsanjan is blessed with natural wonders – the awe-inspiring gorges, the roaring rapids, and the Pagsanjan Falls, a plus factor that made Pagsanjan one of the premiere tourist attractions of the country. The gorges teem with wild orchids, ferns, and vines, and in early morning, chattering monkeys and beautiful sunrays and peaceful water. Inside, multi-colored birds flirt in the bushes. The thrill of shooting the rapids here is an experience of a lifetime, starting with boarding a banca paddled by two expert Pagsanjeño boatmen. The only way to the falls is through the Bumbungan River of Pagsanjan. The upstream trip, three miles from outside town on the rugged Cavinti highlands, is relatively slow as the boatmen paddle and drag the banca against the currents. But the half-hour trip back provides an unforgettable experience in shooting the 14 rapids.The rainy season is the best time to view the series of mini-falls, over 19 in all, first of which is the Talahib Falls. Farther on are the Kalukuy Falls and the misty Bridal Veil Falls. Some of these mini-falls are unnamed and rarely seen in the summer. Huge stones called Pusong Bato lay at the center of the river.Pagsanjan is further known for beautiful and quality shoes and locally made slippers. The shoe store located at Gen. Taiño Street is a tourist favorite.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Enchanted Kingdom is a theme park in the Philippines. It is located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, about 26 kilometers (16.1 miles) from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares (41 acres). The park is managed and operated by Enchanted Kingdom Inc., formerly named Amtrust Leisure Corporation.

Enchanted Kingdom is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

Park zones

Spaceport - Relive the glory days of the American space exploration program of the 1960s. Portabello - A replica of Portabello, a place in Panama in the Caribbean Sea where the riches of the Incas were shipped by the Spaniards.

Brooklyn Place - Take a sentimental journey down the streets of Brooklyn, one of New York's five boroughs, as it was in the 1940's.

Victoria Park - Inspired by the era of Queen Victoria's rule

Boulderville - Discover an era ruled by dinosaurs as you enter Boulderville, a prehistoric cartoon zone designed to capture every child's imagination.

Midway Boardwalk - Coney Island, known as "America's Playground" in the 1930's, comes to life at the Midway Boardwalk.

Jungle Outpost - The heart of the Amazon is the setting of the Jungle Outpost.

Attractions

Space Shuttle (Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster)

Rio Grande Rapids (River rafting ride)

Anchors Away (Pirate Ship Ride)

Discovery Theater (4D Theater)

Roller Skaters (Mini Roller Coaster)

Jungle Log Jam (Jungle-themed flume ride)

Flying Fiesta (Giant swing ride)

Carousel Condor (Spinning Tower Ride)

Swan Lake Dodgem (Bumper Cars)

Wheel of Fate (Ferris Wheel)

Up, up and Away (Balloon Ride)

Bumbling Boulders (Teacups-Type Ride)

Stone Eggs (Kiddie Ferris Wheel)

Exodus the Ride (ATV Adventure Trail)

Kart Trak (Go-Kart Race Track)

Boulderville Express (Train ride)

Xtreme Paintball Rialto (Motion Simulator Theatre)

7th Portal (3D Theater)

HistoryThe park was conceptualized by the Landmark Entertainment Group and modelled after Knott's Berry Farm. It was built at a cost of P1.2-billion. The park first opened on July 28, 1995.